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MACHINE FOR FILLING (mus.

No. 360,541.. Patented Apr. 5. 1887.-

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H. R.'-STI.CK NEY, Zd. MACHINE FOR FILLING; CANS. No. 360,541. PatentedApr. 5, 1887 ,S Fig. 2.

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H. STICK NEY, 2d.

MACHINE FOR FILLING CANS. No. 360.541; Patent' ed Apr. 5, 1887.

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(No Model.)

H. RqsTloKNEY, 2d. MACHINE FOR FILLING CANS.

Patented Apr. 5, 1887. I

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H. R. STIGKNEY, 2d.

MAG HINE FOR FILLING CANS.

No. 360,541. Patented Apr. 5, 1887.

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(No Model;)

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MACHINE FOR FILLING CANS.

No. 360,541. Patented Apr. 5, 1887.

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l i 'UNITED- STATES *PATENT ()rrrcn. l

HENRY It. STICKNEY, 2D,'OF PORTLAND, MAINE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE HALF TORIOHABD A. OONANT, OF SAME PLACE.

SPEOIFICATIONi'orming part of Letters Patent No. 360,541, dated April 5,1887.

' Applicatlon'filod Novembi-r 18,1886. Serial No. 219,278. (No model.)

- land, State of Maine, have invented certain new anduseful Improvementsin Machines for Filling Cans; and I do hereby'declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact descrip tion of the invention, such as willenable othl0 ers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

My invention relates to machines or devices for the rapid filling ofcans in the packing of corn and othersimilar'substances; and the ohjectof my invention is to supplant the hand- ]abor whichwas formerly used inthis opera tion by an automatic machine, which will do the work muchmore rapidly and accurately than it can be done by hand.

so "My invention relates to a device for taking the corn or othersubstan ce'from a hopper into which it is fed and discharging ittherefrom through a filling'nozzle or spout into the open mouth of thecan,.just a sufficient quantity being thrown out at each discharge tofill the can or to furnish the amount, by weight, desired. I show in mypresent application a device for taking the cans from a verticalreservoir and delivering them intermittently under the filling-nozzle.Thislast-nanied portion of my machine I have made the subject of adistinct application, said application being filed ()ctober 28, 1886,and being numbered 217,400, and 1 shall herein limit my claims to partsof the machine other than those claimed in my former application.

My filling device consists, essentially, of a hopper into which the cornor other substance to be canned is placed, an agitator placed near .-,0the outlet of said hopper, a horizontal charge chamber, a cut-off platewhich is intermittently interposed between the hopperand thecharge-chamberto out off ,the charge, a plunger working in thecharge-chamber, and which forces the charge through a filling-nozzleinto the canwhen the said cutoff plate is in posi tion, and means forimparting the desired motion to the plunger, the agitator, and the outoff plate.

My invention is fully illustratcdin the ac? eompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is anelevation of one end. Fig. 2

is an elevation of the opposite end. Fig. 3 is a detail of the two camswhich impart motion to the cut-off plate and plunger. Fig. 4 is a frontelevation. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation. Fig.6 is a top view or plan. Fig.7 is a section on yy ofFig. 6. Fig. 8 is an enlarged view showing meansof feeding cans to the filling-- nozzle. Fig. 9 is'a portion of frontelevation 6c enlarged, and showing cans in process of being fed tofilling-nozzle. Fig. 10 is a perspective view.

K K are the frame of themachine, and c is i the top or table; S is thedrivingpulley, running on the shaft P, which shaft has also asprocket-wheel, Tyand a bevel-gear, U, engaging the largerbevel-gear, V,lixed on the end of the counter-shaft "m, which runs the length of themachine, Figs. 2, 4:, and 5. The pulley S, sprocket-wheel T, andbevel-gear U revolve together upon the shaft I. Above the shaft m, andparallel to it, is the rockershaft h", secured by hangers depending fromthe under side of the bed of the machine. Hung near the ends of shaft hare independent upright arms or levers G 0, one at each end of theshaft, and the upright levers O O, similarly situated, the two latterbeing located on the extreme ends of shaft h. Both these sets of leversare so hung that they have long arms above the shaft and short armsbelow it. The lower ends of levers O O, which reach to the level of theshaft m, are bifurcated, and

within these bifurcations are the trucks O 8 5 O O are two cams ofidentical shape,located upon the shaft in at points where they willrespectively act against the trucks 0 of levers 0. One edge of the cams0 is convex and the other edge is concave, so that during 0 about onequarter of their revolution they throwthe lower ends of the levers Oout,and during the other part of their revolution allow them. to returnto their former position. The lower ends of levers (3 O are rigidly con-5 nected by a rod, 1), and pivoted to this rod is thesweep it, havingalongitudinal slot, throu gh which passes the shaft in.

On one side of the sweep a is pivoted the wheel or roll a", (see Fig.3,) adapted to 'run ICO in the groove a of the path-cam a, which is ifixed to the shaft m. The path a of this cam is divided into four parts,two opposite portions being concentric with the shaft m, and the tworemaining portions being eccentric, each of the two latter having anopposite inclination. The path-cam is thus adapted in one revolution toimpart to the sweep a, and consequently to the levers C, first, a motionaway from the center, then an idle motion, then a motion toward theshaft or center, and, finally, an idle motion, which completes therevolution.

To the upper ends of the levers O G are pivoted the two rods (1 d, whichextend horizontally, or nearly so, back from the body of the machine,Figs. 6 and 10. These rods are encircled throughout their entire lengthby the stiff spiral springs 01' d, and the back ends of the rods passthrough the opposite ends ofa yoke, 0. Back of the yoke, and on the endsof the rods (1 d, are stops f, provided with set-screws.

The yoke 0 runs or slides on two horizontal rods, 0 0", which are fixedto the body E of the machine, and extend backward to a considerabledistance, being united at their rear ends by a yoke or cross-bar, O.

A horizontal screw, F, havingahand-wheel, F, passes through the crossbarO, the end of the screw being toward the machine. (See Figs. 6 and 10.)The yoke p" also slides on the rods 0 the opposite ends of said yokebeing pivoted to rods whose other ends are pivoted to the upper ends oflevers 0.

The casting F, which rests on the table 6, contains near its top thehor'izontal elongated charge chamber R, having a semicircularcross-section open at the top. (See Figs. 4 and 10.) Vithin thechargechaniber It fits closely the plunger P operated by the plunger-rodP, the rear end of which is secured to the yoke 19'. (See Figs. 7and10.) Thehopper B fits within flanges formed in the top of the castingE,and its lower end opens directly into the chargechamber R throughout theentire length ofsaid charge-chamber.

The cut oii' plate (3 slides in horizontal grooves just above the sidesof the chargechamber, and when in position it completely cuts off allconnection between the hopper B and the charge-chamber below it. Theback end of the cut-off plate 0 is secured to the yoke Cgwhich hasalready been described, and it slides in and out with the motion of theyoke along the rods 0, as will behereinafter shown.

W is an agitator consisting of a single flat blade hung horizontally ona rotating shaft, w, which passes through the hopper near its lower end,this shaft to having on its outer end the sprocket-wheel t, which takesitsmotion nozzle between the guides d d and over the table 6 by theaction of the camera and a revolving on the vertical shaftb, which getsits motion from the shaft on by means of the mitergears 00 and n. Thecans are fed down through the spouti; The operation ofthis feedingdevice has been particularly set forth and explained by me in my formerapplication, already spoken of.

The operation of my machine is as follows, namely: Power is imparted tothe shaft on through the driving-pulleyS in the directionindicated bythe arrow in Fig. 2. I will first consider the motion of the cut-offplate 0 as imparted to it by the cam it through levers O" G, yoke G.Supposing the roll a (see Fig. 8) to be at a point near the shaft m,then the lower ends of levers O are drawn in and the upper ends arepushed back away from the hopper, thus withdrawing the slide. The cornor other substanceis stirred up and packed'into the chargechamber by therotation of the agitator w. I

The cam 11 rotates through one-quarter of a revolution and brings thelevers O to the position seen in Fig. 3that is, the upper ends of thelevers are forced in toward the hopper, closing the cutoff plate, thecharge-chamber being filled with corn. \Vhen cam 12 has reached thisposition and closed cut-off plate, the cams O begin to act on the lowerends of levers 0, Fig. 8, forcing in theupper end of these levers, andwith them the yoke 19 and plunger-rod P and plunger P, the motion of theplunger forcing out the contents of the charge-chamber through thefilling-nozzle 9 into the open mouth of can L, which is in place toreceive it. XVhile plunger P is passing in, the roll a is traversing theconcentric portion of cam a, so that levers O, and conseqnentl y cut-oftplate 0, remain at rest within the hopper, keeping the chargechamberclosed. When cam O has pushed the plunger in, the shaft will havecompleted half a revolution, and the yoke 1) will have moved in againstthe back of yoke 6 The roll of now begins to traverse the othereccentric portion of the cam 11., which draws in the lower end of leversO, forcing back the upper ends of the levers, together with yoke C andcutoff plate 0, and also forcing back with it the yoke 1)", bearing theplunger P", against the end of the screw F, which is adjusted to allowthe plunger to come back far enough to admit the desired charge into'the charge-chamber. By means of this screw F the capacity of the chargechamber can be varied, so that the quantity of filling substance thereinwill be just suificient for the size of the cans to be filled. It isthus seen that by the action of the cams a and O,

acting through intermediate mechanism upon the cut-off plate and theplunger, the former is first pushed in, cutting off the charge-chamber,which has been filled with corn from the hopper. The plunger then comesin, forcing the corn into the can, and the cutoff plate then moves back,carrying the plunger with it, thus completing the filling of one can andthe revolution of the shaft m. The ends of rods d pass loosely throughthe yoke the springs d" d, which are very stiff springs, forcing theyoke against the stop f. The springs (1" press back the cutoff plate 0.The somewhat rapid motion with which the machine is run renders thesesprings desirable.

In practice, I find it convenient to place rubber buffers to connect theyoke O with the ends of the rods 0, thus easing the blow from the yokesp and G as they come back.

The agitator IV is rotated continually by means of the sprocket-wheels Tand t and the chain it", and the corn or other substance is thus packedinto the charge-chamber with a uniform density which it would not haveif it were simply allowed to flow by its own weight.

The cans are fed along under the fillingnozzle g, between the guides dd, by the revolution of the cams a and a, which rotate under the monthof the spout i-. One revolution of these cams is made in the same timeas one motion of the plunger, and it is so adjusted that the can arrivesunder the filling-nozzle before the plunger makes its stroke, pausesthere while the corn or other substance is forced into it, and then isfed along to make room for the next can. A more particular descriptionof this part of the machine is to be found in my former application,already referred to.

It is obvious that a variety of mechanism can be applied to produce themovements of the plunger and the cut-off plate, as described, and henceI do not wish to be limited to the exact forms here shown. The agitatormay be dispensed with, though it adds to the efficiency of the machine.

I am aware that a can-filling machine has been used wherein a hopper wasused opening into a box or chamber of indefinite capacity, within whichbox operated a plunger, said box discharging into an upright measuringor filling cylinder; but in my present invenlion the charge-chamber doesthe work of the two-chambers dcscribed-namely, it receives and measuresthe material from the hopper, and is the filling-chamber at the sametime.

I am aware that a can-filling machine has been made wherein an agitatoror stirrer was used near the bottom of the hopper; but the function ofsaid stirrer was to draw the material from the sides of the hopper tothe center, where it could be taken by a downwardmoving plunger. I donot claim such construction.

\Vhat I claim my invention, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine for filling cans, the combination of a hopper the lowerend of which opens into acharge-chamber, an agitator within said hopper,a filling-nozzle leading from said chargechamber, a cut-offplateintermittently interposed between said hopper and saidchargechamber, a plunger working in said charge-chamber, and mechanismfor actuating said cut-off plate and said plunger in the mannersubstantially as described.

2. In a can-filling machine, the combination of a hopper having itslower end opening into a charge-el1amber,a filling-nozzleleadingtherefrom, a cut-off plate adapted to slide in between said hopper andsaid charge-chamber, a plunger working in said charge-chamber andconnected by a piston'rod with a crosshead traveling on guides, apair oflevers piv oted to the body of the machine and having each a long armconnected to said cross-head by a connecting'rod and a short armoperated upon by a cam, whereby the plunger is forced into thecharge-chamber, and mechanism for withdrawing said plunger and forcingin and withdrawing said cut-off plate, sub stantially as described.

3. In a can-filling machine, in combination, a hopper having its lowerend opening into a charge-chamber, a fillingnozzle leading therefrom, acutoff plate adapted to slide in between said hopper and saidcharge-chamber, a yoke attached to said plate and traveling on guides, apair of levers pivoted to the machine and having long arms connected tosaid yoke by connectingrods, and short arms connected with each other.by a shaft, a sweep pivoted to said shaft and having a roll playing ina pathcain, whereby the rotation of said cam slides said cut-off platein and out, a plunger working in said charge-chamber, and means foroperati mg the same, substantially as described.

4. 1n a can-filling machine, a hopper having its lower end opening intoa charge-chamber, a filling-nozzle leading therefrom, a cutoff plateadapted to slide in between said hopper and said cl'iarge-chalnber, ayoke attached to said plate and traveling on guides, a crossheadtraveling on said guides in rear of said yoke and connected by apiston-rod with a plunger operating, in said charge-chamber, cammechanism operative] y connected with said yoke for forcing it in andwithdrawing it, and cam mechanism operatively connected with saidcross-head for forcing it in,whereby the withdrawal of the cutoff plateeffects the withdrawal of the plunger, all combined as and for thepurposes set forth.

5. In a canfilling machine, a hopper connected with a eharge-chamber, acut-off plate adapted to slide in between them, and means for operatingsaid cut-off plate, consisting of a yoke attached to said plate andsliding on guides, a pair of levers pivoted to the ma chine and havingeach a long arm and ashort KOO arm, a rod with one end pivoted to saidlong arm and the other end connected with said yoke, and a sweep pivotedto the lower ends of said levers and having a lateral rol] playing inthe groove ol'a path-cam, and having a slot or groove through whichpasses the shaft on which said eain revolves, whereby the said plate isforced in and then stopped fora time and then withdrawn, all combinedsnbst'an tially as described and shown.

6. In a can-filling 1naehine,the combination of a hopper, aehargeehaniberconnected with said hopper, and an agitator rotating on ahorizontal shaft near the bottom of said. hopper, whereby the materialis stirred and at the same time pressed downward into thechargeehaniber, snbstantiall y as Si'lOWlL 7. In a machine for fillingcans, the eombination of a hopper the lower end of which opens into acharge-chamber, a filling-nozzle leading from the same, a cut-off plateintermittently'interposed between said hopper and the charge-chamber, aplunger working, in said charge-chamber, a device for limiting thestroke of said plunger, and mechanism for interposing the cut-off plateand then forcing in the plungerand afterward withdrawing, both,substantially as shown.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY R. S'lIOKNE-Y, 21o.

\Vitnesses:

FRANKLIN G. PAYSON, I-IAnRIsoN M. DAvIs.

It is hereby certified that the mum: of the ussignuu in Letters latt-nt.N0. $160,541, 1887, upon the application 01' Henry ll. Sliukncy, 2d, ofPortland,

granted April 5,

Filling Cans, was orrmwonsly Written Maine, for a." improvenwnt inMachines for and printed Richard A. Conant, whereas Sillll mums should1mm lumen written and printed Richurrd O. Conant; and that the LULUI'Hlzllmlt should lw, rvml with this cur llZCLlOll therein that the samemay conform m the ruunnl of Lluumsv. in Lhe Pal-tent Ullice.

Signml, ummtcrsiguml, and scaled this 12th llil ul' April, A. I). 1887.

l). L. HAWKINS,

[SEAL] Acting Secretary 1 Hm Inferior.

Ummtcrsignml:

ll. B. VANCE,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

